By Kali Morgan, Summer 2024

Ford Pool is at 609-33 Snyder Ave., 19148.
Phone: 215-336-8750
Police Athletic League Facebook

Medium rectangular pool
Ladders for water entry/exit
No lanes or lines
Strict dress code enforced

#MyPhillyPoolTour2024
JULY 18, 2024 – UPDATE
Ford Pool is open, and it is a nice compact rectangular pool with only ladders for entry and no lift.
Today it was fully staffed, and we were allowed to bring our bags into the pool (although one person was complaining to the staff that their phone had been stolen — the only such incident I have heard of this season, ironically at the police-affiliated rec center).
My friend and I jumped in the water, which was cooler than other pools’, with a crowd of about 30 kids at 1:30pm. Some kids were playing with balls so we were careful of flying objects.
There is a large porta-potty outside the pool for changing/toilet use.

During our visit, pool staff prevented a Latino family from binging their daughter in because they did not approve of her swimwear or lack thereof (which I know they cannot help since they don’t make the rules, but it rubs me the wrong way). I helped explain the issue to this family with the help of Google Translate, as there were no Spanish-speaking staff at the pool. My friend told me that they see incidents like this all the time at Murphy Pool, and I have witnessed similar breakdowns in communication and exclusions at Jardel, Ridgway, Simpson and O’Connor. I am in disbelief that the City cannot retrofit each pool with chair lifts and stairs but spends money to give away “official” swimwear at the start of the season, excluding everyone else for the rest of the season in pools that have plenty of space.

JULY 9, 2024
Ford Pool was closed today because there are no lifeguards. Ugh. I’m a bit cranky and am heading home to eat. Safety first though I guess…